Can-opener



(No Model.)

J.GOULD, Jr. OAN OPENER.

No. 533,642. Patented Feb. 5, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

JAMES GOULD, JR, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CAN-OPEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 533,642, dated February 5, 1895.

Application filed April 11, 18%- Serial No 507,159. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, JAMES GOULD, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Can- Openers; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a device for opening cans.

It consists in certain details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a view of my opener showing it in a position ready to be forced into the can. The dotted lines show it in the operative position. Fig. 2 isa separate view of the same. Fig. 3 represents sections of the same on the lines ac-zc y-y, 2-2: respectively. Fig. 4 is a view of a modification of the device.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple device for opening cans.

In the construction of this device I employ aplate or steel wire A of suitable diameter which is flattened and cut or bentint'o a curve having a rounded outer convex end as shown at G from which point it turns up and terminates at the point D. The outer edge of the curved portion G is sharpened down, as shown in section in Fig. 3, so that by resting it upon the surface of tin at the point where it is desired to cut into the tin to commence opening the can, and striking it a blow with the hand, this sharpened convex edge will be forced through the metal until the hook portion is entirely inserted within the can. It is then turned so that the part A is approximately in a line which it is desired to cut the metal, and the inner curvature E of the hook will impinge against the edge of the tin.

in pulling the shank, a drawing out will be made which is very effective in separating the tin. The point D of the hook is expanded so that there is no cutting edge presented on the inside, this point being made as shown in Fig. 2, and this prevents any tendency of the knife to pull through the tin while it is being drawn along the line of the out.

It will be obvious that in pulling the shank A, it will always be slightly pulled upward from the surface to be cut, and, therefore, the inner edge from E to D will'be dragged along the inside of the tin, making a shearing cut, while, as before stated, the thickening of the point D so that it will have no cutting edge, will prevent its being easily drawn out in the operation. lVhen operated by hand, the shank A is extended and bent into a loop form as at B to afford a hold for the hand. If desired, this hook-shaped cutter may be loosely swiveled to a roller shaft G having a toothed spur-wheel H, which can be rolled along the surface, and caused to drag it and make the cut bythe hold which the points of the wheel have upon the tin.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A can opener consisting of a shank having the attachment for the application of power, a flattened hook at the opposite end formed with a sharpened convex outer curvature O, a sharpened concave curvature E, and an expanded or thickened point D which is adapted to engage the inner wall of the can to serve as a stop to prevent the device being drawn out while in the act of cutting.

2. The can opening device consisting of the shank A and means for applying power thereto, the flattened hook shape having the convex beveled and sharpened outer curvature 0 adapted to be forced into the metal of the can, a correspondingly beveled and sharpened concave curvature E adapted to be drawn through and cut the metal, and having a thickened point at D adapted to engage the inside of the can to prevent the device being drawn out while cutting as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES GOULD, JR.

itnesses:

s. H. Notices, 11. F. AscnnoK. 

